Business News from March 2014

March 31 - March 31 - Fitch Ratings says that consolidation in the container shipping segment via alliances or mergers is likely to accelerate due to persistent overcapacity and freight rates pressure.

March 26 - March 26 - Denmark's Port of Esbjerg reported record-breaking revenue and profit for the third consecutive year in 2013, reflecting high activity in its three main business areas - ro-ro, oil and gas and offshore wind.

March 26 - March 26 - Siemens has confirmed that it will be investing GBP160 million (USD264 million) in wind turbine production and installation facilities at Associated British Ports' (ABP) Port of Hull.

March 24 - March 24 - Polytra bv has shipped 80 bulk wagons from Romanian to Casablanca in Morocco, and 12,000 freight tonnes of pre-assembled steel structures from Moravski Krumlov in the Czech Republic to Germany's port of Hamburg.

March 21 - March 21 - The Canadian Shipowners Association (CSA) is extremely concerned that Canada's ice breaker fleet will not be able to create and maintain the routes needed to move key cargo to Canadian and American industries.

March 20 - March 20 - During the Worldwide Project Consortium's (WWPC) 14th membership conference in Phuket, General Transport's Fritz Mumenthaler resigned from the network's board of advisors and was replaced by Dirk Roethig of LS Cargo International.

March 19 - March 19 - Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) has advised on Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) regulations for vessels arriving at North American ports during summer 2014, as issued by the US Department of Agriculture and Canadian Food Inspection Agency,

March 14 - March 14 - The Port of Antwerp is expanding its representation in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) with two new port representatives: Robert Giraud and Hans Knigs, who with Dr Dieter Lindenblatt complete Antwerp's team of German representatives.

March 14 - March 14 - Shipping losses continued their downward trend with 94 losses reported worldwide in 2013, coming in below 100 for only the second time in 12 years, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE's (AGCS) second annual Safety and Shipping

March 13 - March 13 - Royal Boskalis Westminster - the Netherlands based dredging and marine contractor - posted a record net profit of EUR366 million (USD511 million) in 2013, up from EUR249 million (USD347.7 million) in 2012.

March 12 - March 12 -In Deutsche Post DHL's (DPDHL) 2013 results, announced earlier today, the companies Global Forwarding and Freight division was highlighted as the weaker performer in what was largely a successful year for the group.

March 12 - March 12 - A 9.1 percent decrease in freight volumes to and from Greenland has resulted in Royal Arctic Line posting a loss before tax and minority interests of DKK20 million (USD3.7 million) and DKK14million (USD2.6 million) after tax for 2013.

March 11 - March 11 - Sea Star Line LLC and Horizon Lines LLC will pay a USD3.4 million settlement to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act when they knowingly fixed the price of government cargo transportation contracts between the USA and Pue

March 10 - March 10 - The Port of Antwerp is taking its roadshow to China once more visiting Shenzhen, Shanghai and Ningbo with the emphasis on promoting its services for the steel and breakbulk sectors.

March 7 - March 7 - ENTREC Corporation has closed a new USD240 million senior secured asset-based credit facility, the ABL Facility, with a syndicate of lenders led by Wells Fargo Capital Finance Corporation Canada.

March 5 - March 5 - The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has expressed both encouragement and disappointment over the funding levels and programmatic changes in federal port-related programmes that were proposed in the President's FY 2015 budget.

March 5 - March 5 - International freight forwarding and logistics company Panalpina reported an earnings before interest or taxes (EBIT) of CHF48 million (USD54 million), or CHF108 million (USD121 million) when adjusted for non-recurring items, which is more than

March 4 - March 4 - Following an eight percent decline in overall cargo volumes in 2013 through the port of Brake, the port's operator called for the River Weser to be improved to help improve its operational competitiveness.

March 4 - March 4 - Associated British Ports (ABP) has petitioned against the decision by the British transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, to grant a Development Consent Order for the Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP), to the dismay of the park developer, ABLE, an

March 3 - March 3 - The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has commended steps taken by President Barack Obama toward increasing the investment in transportation infrastructure, including needed infrastructure in and connecting to America's seaports.